New year begins with March Through the Arch

The new school year is finally here on Northwestern’s Evanston campus with move-in day on Tuesday, Sept. 17, as new and transfer students arrived with carloads of boxes and belongings.

On Wednesday, Sept. 18 — in University tradition — more than 2,000 students followed the marching band and peer advisors under Weber Arch for their symbolic first steps as Wildcats while parents, siblings and friends cheered them along the path to Deering Meadow.

Wildcat Welcome activities continue on for the rest of the week, highlighted by Rock the Lake and a watch party for Northwestern football’s Big Ten opener at Washington on Saturday night. Classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Video by Stephen J. Lewis and photography by Jill Norton.